[Hildy]

I agree with you, but it's just not Ohio...it's everywhere in America. I have a feeling the people who want to deny we have a huge (excuse the pun)problem in this country are fat themselves. I live in Bullhead city, a relatively poor town across the river from Laughlin, NV which is a low-cost vacation getaway (of course gambling and eating are the main attractions)...I have never seen so many obese people in my life as I did when I moved here.

This is a true story..I was waiting for a table at a seafood buffet at one of the casinos. Right in front of me was a table with five of the fattest women I had ever seen. TWO OF THEM WERE USING OXYGEN AND IN WHEELCHAIRS. The shells from the crab were falling off their plates onto the floor as they were stuffing their fat mouths. I got so disgusted, I told my husband I had to leave. I was almost crying..I looked around me at the fat people smoking, gambling, drinking and eating and I thought "is this what our soldiers are dying for?" I know it's not really like that, but for that split second, I was absolutely mortified...and still am when I think about it.

Am I being judgemental? Yout bet I am. I wish more people were judgemental. I credit the death of shame for some of our weight problems.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

I don't remember but a handful of overweight people when I was young.

Of course, the heavyweight boxing champion at that time was only 188 lbs.

It's fast food and the availability of the food without exercise. A lot of people gain 5-10 lbs during the Thanksgiving to New Year's timeframe and never take it off. So after ten years, it's an extra 50-100 lbs, depending on the person. Just sorta inches up on you.

[utherdoul]

People get fat in times of prosperity and abundance and tend to get thinner during leaner times. Which would you rather deal with?